This Could Change Everything(101)

Bloody hell, what? Conor stared at her in disbelief. If she seriously thought he’d ended his relationship with Belinda because he secretly wanted to be with her . . .

‘Tell me the truth, please.’ Caz was insistent. ‘If I’m the reason you broke up with her, we can sort this out.’

Now he was even more confused. ‘I’m not sure what you mean.’

Scarlett, who’d been listening, suddenly blurted out, ‘OK, can I just explain? Caz doesn’t think you’re madly in love with her. She’s asking you if the reason you and Belinda broke up is because you can’t stand her.’ She pulled an apologetic face at Caz. ‘Sorry, but we both know it’s true.’

‘Of course it’s true!’ It was Caz’s turn to be stunned. She jabbed a finger at Conor. ‘You seriously thought I was here because I thought you fancied me? Ha, are you nuts? I wouldn’t think that! I know you can’t stand me!’

‘That’s why I was so confused.’ Conor was indignant.

‘OK, at least now we’re on the same page.’ Caz drew a deep breath. ‘So let me ask you again. Am I the reason you finished with Belinda? Because if I am, I’ll step aside. I won’t be her best friend any more; you’ll never have to put up with me again. And I mean it, OK? If you and Belinda walk into the pub and I’m there, I’ll leave, because all I want is for her to be happy, and I couldn’t bear to be the person getting in the way of that.’

‘Whoa.’ Conor held up his hand to stop her. ‘It’s not you. You’re not the reason.’

‘But you hate me.’

‘I don’t hate you. You’re loud and annoying, and sometimes your voice is like nails being scraped down a blackboard, but I don’t hate you. And I promise you now, you weren’t the reason the relationship didn’t work out.’

Caz narrowed her eyes, clearly not convinced. ‘But you were so happy together. The only thing you weren’t happy about was me.’

Conor was unexpectedly moved. As Belinda had always reminded him, Caz was a loyal friend with a good heart. She was essentially a kind, well-meaning person. Maybe he did need to explain.

‘We were happy to begin with. But after a while it began to feel like everyone was so enthralled by the story of how we met that we had to stay together just so they could get their happy-ever-after.’

‘That makes sense.’ Caz nodded slowly. ‘You mean you felt pressured.’

‘I did. And Evie’s such a fantastic kid . . . that was another pressure. But sometimes it just takes a while to realise you aren’t as good a match as you hoped you would be. Which was what happened to me,’ said Conor. ‘These things don’t always work out. I didn’t want to hurt Belinda, but you can’t just stay with someone to avoid upsetting them, can you? That wouldn’t be fair to her or to me.’

Caz looked at him. ‘It wouldn’t.’

‘Thank you. Finally we agree on something.’

‘And it absolutely definitely wasn’t because of me?’

‘Absolutely definitely,’ said Conor, relieved that there hadn’t been an almighty showdown. ‘And to prove it, I’m going to buy you a drink.’

This perked Caz right up. ‘Ah, cheers. I’ll have a large voddy-tonic!’

If only she knew how much the way she said ‘voddy-tonic’ set his teeth on edge.

Then a heavy hand clapped Conor on the back and a voice bellowed, ‘Getting a round in, are we? Ha ha, looks like I timed that well!’

Oh joy, it was Brendan, with his uncanny knack of attaching himself to people who’d rather he kept his distance. Conor opened his mouth to explain that actually they were having a private conversation, but Brendan was already gazing with open admiration at Caz.

‘I say, you’re a veritable vision! Are you Conor’s new lady friend? Hello, I’m Brendan, how delightful to meet you!’

‘Are you out of your mind? Me and Conor? Hahahahaha.’ Caz let out an ear-splitting parrot screech of laughter. ‘As if! He can’t stand me!’

‘Oh now, I don’t believe that,’ Brendan protested.

‘It’s true,’ said Conor. ‘And pretty much mutual.’

‘Pint of Heineken for me, Scarlett. Well that’s just crazy.’ Brendan turned back to Caz. ‘Look at you – you’re a goddess! What’s the matter with the chap?’

Conor blinked; Brendan appeared to mean it.

‘I tell you what, I’d be too much for him to handle.’ Caz was both smirking and eyeing Brendan with interest. ‘I prefer a bigger man, someone who knows how to look after a woman, know what I mean?’

Urgh, urgh, and now she was winking at him, with her giant spidery lashes and lascivious grin. On the brink of retorting that he was perfectly capable of looking after a woman, Conor caught Scarlett’s eye and realised that this definitely wasn’t the occasion to be defending himself.

What was more, Brendan had got his wallet out and was saying excitedly, ‘Let me get these! I like a lady who knows what she wants. And I don’t even know your name yet!’

‘It’s Caz.’ As she said it, Caz was squashing her arms at her sides to push her boobs up and out.

‘Caz, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Short for Caroline, am I right?’